Trump Signs Spending Bill, Averting Government Shutdown for Six Months
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WASHINGTON — President Trump has signed legislation into law that funds the government until the end of September, preventing a partial government shutdown. This action concludes a contentious period in Congress that created significant divisions among Democrats.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields announced on X that Trump signed the continuing resolution on Saturday.
The legislation largely maintains government funding at levels established during the Biden administration, albeit with some adjustments. It reduces non-defense spending by approximately $13 billion compared to the previous year while increasing defense spending by around $6 billion. These changes are relatively small considering the overall spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion.
The Senate approved the bill on Friday with a 54-46 vote along party lines. Ten Senate Democrats sided with Republicans, helping the bill pass despite internal opposition, particularly from House Democrats who urged its rejection.
Senate Democrats spent days debating whether to risk a shutdown, frustrated that House Republicans had drafted and passed the spending bill without Democratic input. Democrats argued that the bill inadequately funds healthcare, housing, and other priorities. They also contended that it grants Trump excessive authority to redirect federal spending, even as his administration and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rapidly dismantle agencies and programs approved by Congress.
Ultimately, enough Democratic senators concluded that a government shutdown would be worse than allowing the funding bill to pass.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated that a shutdown would have allowed the Trump administration to declare entire agencies, programs, and personnel as non-essential, potentially leading to staff furloughs without any guarantee of rehire.
“A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,” Schumer said. “Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.”
The House’s earlier passage of the funding bill was a victory for both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson successfully maintained Republican unity and secured the bill’s passage without Democratic support, a feat rarely achieved recently.
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